Abstract: The operational life of rotating machines has to be extended using a predictive condition maintenance tool. Among various condition monitoring techniques, vibration analysis is most widely used technique in industry. Signals are extracted for evaluating the condition of machine; further diagnostics is carried out with detected signals to extend the life of machine. With help of detected signals, further interpretations are done to predict the occurrence of defects. To study the problem of defects, a test rig with various possibilities of defects is constructed and experiments are performed considering the unbalanced condition. Further, this paper presents an approach for fault diagnosis of unbalance condition using Elman neural network and frequency-domain vibration analysis. Amplitudes with variation in acceleration are fed to Elman neural network to classify fault or no-fault condition. The Elman network is trained, validated and tested with experimental readings. Results illustrate the effectiveness of Elman network in rotor-bearing system.
Abstract: Connected vehicles are one of the promising technologies for future Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS). A connected vehicle system is essentially a set of vehicles communicating through a network to exchange their information with each other and the infrastructure. Although this interconnection of the vehicles can be potentially beneficial in creating an efficient, sustainable, and green transportation system, a set of safety and reliability challenges come out with this technology. The first challenge arises from the information loss due to unreliable communication network which affects the control/management system of the individual vehicles and the overall system. Such scenario may lead to degraded or even unsafe operation which could be potentially catastrophic. Secondly, faulty sensors and actuators can affect the individual vehicle’s safe operation and in turn will create a potentially unsafe node in the vehicular network. Further, sending that faulty sensor information to other vehicles and failure in actuators may significantly affect the safe operation of the overall vehicular network. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to take these issues into consideration while designing the control/management algorithms of the individual vehicles as a part of connected vehicle system. In this paper, we consider a connected vehicle system under Co-operative Adaptive Cruise Control (CACC) and propose a fault diagnosis scheme that deals with these aforementioned challenges. Specifically, the conventional CACC algorithm is modified by adding a Kalman filter-based estimation algorithm to suppress the effect of lost information under unreliable network. Further, a sliding mode observer-based algorithm is used to improve the sensor reliability under faults. The effectiveness of the overall diagnostic scheme is verified via simulation studies.
Abstract: This paper deals with a method of learning to solve a real problem in biomedical engineering from a technical study of muscle fatigue. Electromyography (EMG) is a technique for evaluating and recording the electrical activity produced by skeletal muscles (viewpoint: anatomical and physiological). EMG is used as a diagnostics tool for identifying neuromuscular diseases, assessing low-back pain and muscle fatigue in general. In order to study the EMG signal for detecting fatigue in a muscle, we have taken a real problem which touches the tramway conductor the handle bar. For the study, we have used a typical autonomous platform in order to get signals at real time. In our case study, we were confronted with complex problem to do our experiments in a tram. This type of problem is recurring among students. To teach our students the method to solve this kind of problem, we built a similar system. Through this study, we realized a lot of objectives such as making the equipment for simulation, the study of detection of muscle fatigue and especially how to manage a study of biomedical looking.
Abstract: Excessive vibration means increased wear, increased
repair efforts, bad product selection & quality and high energy
consumption. This may be sometimes experienced by cavitation or
suction/discharge recirculation which could occur only when net
positive suction head available NPSHA drops below the net positive
suction head required NPSHR. Cavitation can cause axial surging, if it
is excessive, will damage mechanical seals, bearings, possibly other
pump components frequently, and shorten the life of the impeller.
Efforts have been made to explain Suction Energy (SE), Specific
Speed (Ns), Suction Specific Speed (Nss), NPSHA, NPSHR & their
significance, possible reasons of cavitation /internal recirculation, its
diagnostics and remedial measures to arrest and prevent cavitation in
this paper. A case study is presented by the author highlighting that
the root cause of unwanted noise and vibration is due to cavitation,
caused by high specific speeds or inadequate net- positive suction
head available which results in damages to material surfaces of
impeller & suction bells and degradation of machine performance, its
capacity and efficiency too. Author strongly recommends revisiting
the technical specifications of CW pumps to provide sufficient NPSH
margin ratios >1.5, for future projects and Nss be limited to 8500 -
9000 for cavitation free operation.
Abstract: Noninvasive diagnostics of diseases via breath
analysis has attracted considerable scientific and clinical interest for
many years and become more and more promising with the rapid
advancements in nanotechnology and biotechnology. The volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled breath, which are mainly
blood borne, particularly provide highly valuable information about
individuals’ physiological and pathophysiological conditions.
Additionally, breath analysis is noninvasive, real-time, painless, and
agreeable to patients. We have developed a wireless sensor array
based on single-stranded DNA (ssDNA)-functionalized single-walled
carbon nanotubes (SWNT) for the detection of a number of
physiological indicators in breath. Seven DNA sequences were used
to functionalize SWNT sensors to detect trace amount of methanol,
benzene, dimethyl sulfide, hydrogen sulfide, acetone, and ethanol,
which are indicators of heavy smoking, excessive drinking, and
diseases such as lung cancer, breast cancer, and diabetes. Our test
results indicated that DNA functionalized SWNT sensors exhibit
great selectivity, sensitivity, and repeatability; and different
molecules can be distinguished through pattern recognition enabled
by this sensor array. Furthermore, the experimental sensing results
are consistent with the Molecular Dynamics simulated ssDNAmolecular
target interaction rankings. Thus, the DNA-SWNT sensor
array has great potential to be applied in chemical or biomolecular
detection for the noninvasive diagnostics of diseases and personal
health monitoring.
Abstract: In this paper, we report the development of the device
for diagnostics of cardiovascular system state and associated
automated workstation for large-scale medical measurement data
collection and analysis. It was shown that optimal design for the
monitoring device is wristband as it represents engineering trade-off
between accuracy and usability. Monitoring device is based on the
infrared reflective photoplethysmographic sensor, which allows
collecting multiple physiological parameters, such as heart rate and
pulsing wave characteristics. Developed device uses BLE interface
for medical and supplementary data transmission to the coupled
mobile phone, which processes it and send it to the doctor's
automated workstation. Results of this experimental model
approbation confirmed the applicability of the proposed approach.
Abstract: This article presents a vibration diagnostic method
designed for Permanent Magnets (PM) electrical machines–traction
motors and generators. Those machines are commonly used in traction
drives of electrical vehicles and small wind or water systems. The
described method is very innovative and unique. Specific structural
properties of machines excited by permanent magnets are used in this
method - electromotive force (EMF) generated due to vibrations. There
was analyzed number of publications, which describe vibration
diagnostic methods, and tests of electrical machines and there was no
method found to determine the technical condition of such machine
basing on their own signals. This work presents field-circuit model,
results of static tests, results of calculations and simulations.
Abstract: This paper addresses a cutting edge method of
business demand forecasting, based on an empirical probability
function when the historical behavior of the data is random.
Additionally, it presents error determination based on the numerical
method technique ‘propagation of errors.’ The methodology was
conducted characterization and process diagnostics demand planning
as part of the production management, then new ways to predict its
value through techniques of probability and to calculate their mistake
investigated, it was tools used numerical methods. All this based on
the behavior of the data. This analysis was determined considering
the specific business circumstances of a company in the sector of
communications, located in the city of Bogota, Colombia. In
conclusion, using this application it was possible to obtain the
adequate stock of the products required by the company to provide its
services, helping the company reduce its service time, increase the
client satisfaction rate, reduce stock which has not been in rotation
for a long time, code its inventory, and plan reorder points for the
replenishment of stock.
Abstract: In this paper the problem of the application of
temporal reasoning and case-based reasoning in intelligent decision
support systems is considered. The method of case-based reasoning
with temporal dependences for the solution of problems of real-time
diagnostics and forecasting in intelligent decision support systems is
described. This paper demonstrates how the temporal case-based
reasoning system can be used in intelligent decision support systems
of the car access control. This work was supported by RFBR.
Abstract: Early diagnosis of infection like Hep-B virus in blood
is important for low cost medical treatment. For this purpose, it is
desirable to develop a point of care device which should be able to
detect trace quantities of the target molecule in blood. In this paper,
we report a nanoporous silicon oxide sensor which is capable of
detecting down to 1fM concentration of Hep-B surface antigen in
blood without the requirement of any centrifuge or pre-concentration.
This has been made possible by the presence of resonant peak in the
sensitivity characteristics. This peak is observed to be dependent only
on the concentration of the specific antigen and not on the interfering
species in blood serum. The occurrence of opposite impedance
change within the pores and at the bottom of the pore is responsible
for this effect. An electronic interface has also been designed to
provide a display of the virus concentration.
Abstract: The paper deals with the diagnostics of steel roof
structure of the winter sports halls built in 1970 year. The necessity
of the diagnostics has been given by the requirement to the evaluation
design of this structure, which has been caused by the new situation
in the field of the loadings given by the validity of the European
Standards in the Czech Republic from 2010 year. Due to these
changes in the normative rules, in practice existing structures are
gradually subjected to the evaluation design and depending on its
results to the strengthening or reconstruction, respectively. Steel roof
is composed of plane truss main girders, purlins and bracings and the
roof structure is supported by two arch main girders with the span of
L = 84 m. The in situ diagnostics of the roof structure was oriented to
the following parts: (i) determination and evaluation of the actual
material properties of used steel and (ii) verification of the actual
dimensions of the structural members. For the solution the nondestructive
methods have been used for in situ measurement. For the
indicative determination of steel strengths the modified method based
on the determination of Rockwell’s hardness has been used. For the
verification of the member’s dimensions (thickness of hollow
sections) the ultrasound method has been used. This paper presents
the results obtained using these testing methods and their evaluation,
from the viewpoint of the usage for the subsequent static assessment
and design evaluation of the existing structure. For the comparison,
the examples of the similar evaluations realized for steel structures of
the stadiums in Olomouc and Jihlava cities are briefly illustrated, too.
Abstract: This paper presents development of the light-weight manipulator with series elastic actuation for medical telediagnostics (USG examination). General structure of realized impedance control algorithm was shown. It was described how to perform force measurements based mainly on elasticity of manipulator links.
Abstract: The nanotechnology offers some exciting possibilities in cancer treatment, including the possibility of destroying tumors with minimal damage to healthy tissue and organs by targeted drug delivery systems. Considerable achievements in investigations aimed at the use of ZnO nanoparticles and nanocontainers in diagnostics and antitumor therapy were described. However, there are substantial obstacles to the purposes to be achieved by the use of zinc oxide nanosize materials in antitumor therapy. Among the serious problems are the techniques of obtaining ZnO nanosize materials. The article presents a new vector delivery system for the known antitumor drug, doxorubicin in the form of polymeric (PEO, starch-NaCMC) hydrogels, in which nanosize ZnO film of a certain thickness are deposited directly on the drug surface on glass substrate by DC-magnetron sputtering of a zinc target. Anticancer activity in vitro and in vivo of those nanosize zinc oxide composites is shown.
Abstract: Laser Doppler flowmetry is a modern method of noninvasive
microcirculation investigation. The aim of our study was to
use this method in the examination of patients with secondary
lymphedema of the lower extremities and obliterating atherosclerosis
of lower extremities. In the analysis of the amplitude-frequency
spectrum of secondary lymphedema patients we have identified
remarkable changes. To describe the changes we used a special
amplitude rate. In both of patients groups this rate was significally
(p
Abstract: Two optimized strategies were successfully established
to develop biomolecule-based magnetic nanoassemblies.
Streptavidin-coated and amine-coated magnetic nanoparticles were
chosen as model scaffolds onto which double-stranded DNA and
human immunoglobulin G were specifically conjugated in succession,
using biotin-streptavidin interaction or covalent cross-linkers. The
success of this study opens the prospect of developing selective and
sensitive nanoparticle-based structures for diagnostics or drug
delivery.
Abstract: Ultrafast doped zinc oxide crystal promised us a good
opportunity to build new instruments for ICF fusion neutron
measurement. Two pulsed neutron detectors based on ZnO crystal
wafer have been conceptually designed, the superfast ZnO timing
detector and the scintillation recoil proton neutron detection system.
The structure of these detectors was presented, and some characters
were studied as well. The new detectors could be much faster than
existing systems, and would be more competent for ICF neutron
diagnostics.
Abstract: Functional gastrointestinal disorders affect millions of people spread all age regardless of race and sex. There are, however, rare diagnostic methods for the functional gastrointestinal disorders because functional disorders show no evidence of organic and physical causes. Our research group identified recently that the gastrointestinal tract well in the patients with the functional gastrointestinal disorders becomes more rigid than healthy people when palpating the abdominal regions overlaying the gastrointestinal tract. Aim of this study is, therefore, to develop a diagnostic system for the functional gastrointestinal disorders based on ultrasound technique, which can quantify the characteristic above related to the rigidity of the gastrointestinal tract well. Ultrasound system was designed. The system consisted of transmitter, ultrasonic transducer, receiver, TGC, and CPLD, and verified via a phantom test. For the phantom test, ten soft-tissue specimens were harvested from porcine. Five of them were then treated chemically to mimic a rigid condition of gastrointestinal tract well, which was induced by functional gastrointestinal disorders. Additionally, the specimens were tested mechanically to identify if the mimic was reasonable. The customized ultrasound system was finally verified through application to human subjects with/without functional gastrointestinal disorders (Normal and Patient Groups). It was identified from the mechanical test that the chemically treated specimens were more rigid than normal specimen. This finding was favorably compared with the result obtained from the phantom test. The phantom test also showed that ultrasound system well described the specimen geometric characteristics and detected an alteration in the specimens. The maximum amplitude of the ultrasonic reflective signal in the rigid specimens (0.2±0.1Vp-p) at the interface between the fat and muscle layers was explicitly higher than that in the normal specimens (0.1±0.0Vp-p). Clinical tests using our customized ultrasound system for human subject showed that the maximum amplitudes of the ultrasonic reflective signals near to the gastrointestinal tract well for the patient group (2.6±0.3Vp-p) were generally higher than those in normal group (0.1±0.2Vp-p). Here, maximum reflective signals was appeared at 20mm depth approximately from abdominal skin for all human subjects, corresponding to the location of the boundary layer close to gastrointestinal tract well. These results suggest that newly designed diagnostic system based on ultrasound technique may diagnose enough the functional gastrointestinal disorders.
Abstract: Many contemporary telemedical applications rely on
regular consultations over the phone or video conferencing which
consumes valuable resources such as the time of the doctors. Some
applications or treatments allow automated diagnostics on the patient
side which only notifies the doctors in case a significant worsening
of patient’s condition is measured.
Such programs can save valuable resources but an important
implementation issue is how to ensure effective and cheap diagnostics
on the patient side. First, specific diagnostic devices on patient side
are expensive and second, they need to be user-˜friendly to encourage
patient’s cooperation and reduce errors in usage which may cause
noise in diagnostic data.
This article proposes the use of modern smartphones and various
build-in or attachable sensors as universal diagnostic devices applicable
in a wider range of telemedical programs and demonstrates their
application on a case-study – a program for schizophrenic relapse
prevention.
Abstract: Large metal and concrete structures suffer by various kinds of deterioration, and accurate prediction of the remaining life is important. This paper informs about two methods for its assessment. One method, suitable for steel bridges and other constructions exposed to fatigue, monitors the loads and damage accumulation using information systems for the operation and the finite element model of the construction. In addition to the operation load, the dead weight of the construction and thermal stresses can be included into the model. The second method is suitable for concrete bridges and other structures, which suffer by carbonatation and other degradation processes, driven by diffusion. The diffusion constant, important for the prediction of future development, can be determined from the depth-profile of pH, obtained by pH measurement at various depths. Comparison with measurements on real objects illustrates the suitability of both methods.
Abstract: Content-Based Image Retrieval (CBIR) has been
one on the most vivid research areas in the field of computer vision
over the last 10 years. Many programs and tools have been
developed to formulate and execute queries based on the visual or
audio content and to help browsing large multimedia repositories.
Still, no general breakthrough has been achieved with respect to
large varied databases with documents of difering sorts and with
varying characteristics. Answers to many questions with respect to
speed, semantic descriptors or objective image interpretations are
still unanswered. In the medical field, images, and especially
digital images, are produced in ever increasing quantities and used
for diagnostics and therapy. In several articles, content based
access to medical images for supporting clinical decision making
has been proposed that would ease the management of clinical data
and scenarios for the integration of content-based access methods
into Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) have
been created. This paper gives an overview of soft computing
techniques. New research directions are being defined that can
prove to be useful. Still, there are very few systems that seem to be
used in clinical practice. It needs to be stated as well that the goal
is not, in general, to replace text based retrieval methods as they
exist at the moment.